Data Accelerator Fund for Novel and Emerging Assets (DAFNEA) FAQs
Funding scope and eligible costs
The funding is deliberately flexible. It can be used for salary costs, hardware, project management, technical support, information governance, consultancy, and any resources needed to get your data asset over the line. There is also a central pot for information governance and technical setup support via a consultancy.
Yes, if it helps your organisation support data for research, this is a good use of funds. However, ongoing funding for maintenance is not provided—this is a one-off setup grant.
Yes, as long as the project meets the other criteria of the call.
Data hosting, access, and security
The preferred model is federated/local hosting. Data remains within your organisation, accessed via secure pipelines (e.g., Azure Data Share) for specific projects. There is no central data lake; data is only pulled for approved projects and then stored securely.
Access is governed by a Data Access Committee with public and professional members. The data controller (usually your organisation) is a key partner in any application. Special arrangements can be made for unique or sensitive datasets.
You retain copyright and intellectual property for your dataset. Citation and credit requirements will be detailed in the contract.
Data requirements and types
There is no strict minimum, as it will depend on the dataset itself. Both qualitative and quantitative data are welcome, but the fund cannot support projects based solely on qualitative data.
Only existing datasets are eligible. The novelty lies in making previously inaccessible data available for research, not in collecting new data.
Data should be relevant to modern healthcare and treatment. Exceptionally valuable historical datasets may be considered.
Eligibility and application process
Applications are open to NHS, academia, industry, and VCSE organisations, provided the data is from or relevant to the North West. Partnerships are welcome, but the data controller must be a key partner on the application.
Yes, but the data and data owners must be from the North West.
Multiple applications are allowed, but typically only one project per organisation will be funded unless there are distinctly separate projects.
Yes, as long as there is a North West anchor. Replicating successful models from other regions is encouraged.
The fund expects to support around 10–12 projects, with grants ranging from £25,000 to £125,000.
Special considerations for VCSE organisations
The programme recognises the unique challenges faced by VCSEs and aims to build trust, capacity, and skills. Centralised resources and matchmaking for technical support are available.
Data access, maintenance and sustainability
No, ongoing maintenance is not funded. Applicants should consider sustainability in their proposals. If sustainability is a concern, flag it in your application for discussion.
The intention is to continue supporting data asset growth, but future calls depend on additional funding.
Data use, ethics and opt-outs
The system has Health Research Authority approval to collect non-consented data, which is de-identified before researcher access. Both NHS and local opt-outs are respected, and governance is managed centrally to reduce the burden on data providers.
Patient-level identifiable data is preferred for linkage, but pseudonymised or anonymised data can be acceptable. The value of anonymised data depends on its scale and the richness of metadata.
Application assessment
PPIE is valued and will be considered in the assessment. Existing engagement should
be described in the application. Patient and public involvement will also play a role in
deciding which assets are funded.